Dylan Cease, the White Sox’ best hope, is also the best Cy Young value play on the board

The All-Star snub is closing in on a much larger accolade.

We’ve discussed the hapless Chicago White Sox, manager Tony La Russa and the woes of the South Siders pretty much all season long over here at FTW.

Not much has changed. The team is still stuck at .500, still in third place in the American League Central and still trying to prove their best days are ahead.

They likely won’t make the playoffs. If they do, they certainly don’t seem set up to go far (though the August 2 trade deadline could change things).

There is one aspect of the Sox season that is worth appreciating, however, and Cy Young bettors will want to pay attention. For as tumultuous a summer as Chicago has endured, Dylan Cease has been able to provide relief every five days.

Cease is currently +9000 to win AL Cy Young at Tipico Sportsbook. He began the year at +1200. And the only thing he’s done since then is prove again and again how dominant he already is at 26 years old. Don’t be fooled by his absurd All-Star Game snub. Take a look at the evidence for yourself.

Dylan Cease Stats (AL rank)

Innings Pitched Wins Above Replacement Strikeouts K/9 ERA Hits Per 9 IP Home Runs Per 9 IP Fielding Independent Pitching
110.2 (10th) 3.6 (2nd) 154 (1st) 12.524 (1st) 2.03 (3rd) 6.75 (4th) 0.651 (4th) 2.67 (4th)

According to Tankathon, the White Sox have the second-easiest schedule remaining. While it may not help the team’s playoff chances too much, it should aide Cease’s Cy Young campaign. As his stuff continues to dominate he should have no trouble facing weaker lineups.

The issue is that the pitchers with shorter odds ahead of him continue to dominate as well. To cash this ticket the likes of favorites Shane McClanahan (+162) and Justin Verlander (+250) will need to stumble.

It’s certainly possible, but it’s also the reason why Cease’s odds remain significantly longer.

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